Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt

~ John W. Howell

 

As you may know, Keith Channing has taken the month of November to craft another Na-No-Wri-Mo 50,000 word novel. So again today I am promptless. GP Cox came up with a solution. He more or less said, “Why don’t you point a finger at a spot in a book and use that as a prompt.” He recalled a prompt on a Steam of Conscious Saturday where Linda Hill proscribed just that prompt method.

So thank you, GP Cox. Here it goes. I am opening Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez to page 135. Today’s prompt is the sentence, “She was furious for three reasons:” Here goes nothing.

Furious By John W. Howell © 2018

“I see you stomping your foot. What’s the matter?”

“You wouldn’t understand. It is one of those shopping things from which you seem to be immune.”

“Come on. I know it wasn’t me who made you angry, so let me help.”

“Do you know anything about dresses?”

“Um. I know when you look good in them.”

“Typical comment from the totally oblivious.”

“Okay you are mad, I get that. I guess I’ll just leave you to your mood.”

“Wait. I’m sorry. You are right. You didn’t have anything to do with the situation so I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“Tell me what happened. Maybe it will make you feel better.”

“You should know that I’m furious for three reasons.”

“That is a beginning. What is reason one?”

“I ordered a new dress for the holiday party online for pickup.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad.”

“That is not a reason. I was giving you context. Here is reason one. I drove to the store and had to wait forty-five minutes until they found the dress.”

“That seems like a long time.”

“Duh. It was supposed to be in pick up.”

“Reason two.”

“I ordered a petite size, and the dress they gave me was a medium.”

“Uh oh. I’ve been in that bear trap myself.”

“Yeah until I banished you from clothes shopping.”

“How about reason three?”

“There were no petite sizes in the dress I wanted. It was on sale and a bargain.”

“When you ordered it did they say the size was in stock.”

“Of course they did, or I wouldn’t have been able to order it.”

“Did you speak to a manager?”

“I did.”

“What happened?”

“I got a refund.”

“Well, it all turned out then.”

“Except I lost out on a bargain, I wasted gas on the round trip, and I had to spend more money on another dress.”

“More money? How much more?”

“Two hundred dollars.”

“Well, do you like the dress?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well seems like all is well that ends well.”

The other dress went with my shoes. I had to get new to go with this dress.”

“Shoes?”

“One Seventy-five.”

“Let’s sue.”

 

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

65 thoughts on “Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt”

  2. Oh, the frustrations of shopping for a bargain! You’ve captured the emotional highs and lows exquisitely, John. 😀

    Like

  4. I told you that you had a talented finger! Who else could come up with a sentence like “She was furious for three reasons:” and then do such a great job with it!!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Hah! It’s really all about the shoes, you know… the dress is simply a ruse to need more shoes… not that I ever did such a thing…
    And shopping on-line is no batgain.

    Liked by 1 person

        2. I used to spend a fortune on shoes because, like she says in the movie “In Her Shoes”, ‘shoes always fit’… You go shopping for a dress or pants or whatever, can find nothing that doesn’t make you feel like a cow… come out with a pair of shoes!

          Liked by 1 person

  7. You know the next thing is the cute little purse that matches those shoes. I think we can get this easily up to him being furious for 3-5 reasons, John. Great job with the GPrompt.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Pingback: Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

  10. I’m with Robbie on the shoes. A woman can never have enough. Of course, then there’s all the other accessorizing too . . . 🙂

    You are so talented with prompts,John. Loved the ending. Thanks for today’s entertainment!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. First of all, I was blown away that the book you chose to open was “Love in the Time of Cholera.” I recently interviewed Michael Martin Murphy for the magazine, and he talked extensively about this book. He said he carries it with him on trips and has read it multiple times. I ordered it but have not read it yet. I think this is a sign. 🙂 Loved your take on the prompt. I agree. Let’s sue!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I loathe shopping. I head into the store with a clear view of exactly what I’ll purchase. If I haven’t achieved that within ten-minutes I’m outta there. Insightful post, John.😊

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I’m surprised there is no mention of a new handbag and a new hairdo, John, but who knows how this story went on to end up. 😀 It did one thing, and that was to make me laugh. I can see this happening up and down the country a lot.
    Thanks for the laughs.

    Liked by 1 person

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